Why we formed synergy with NASFAT on training catering professionals —Lagos Airport Hotel boss

The Managing Director, Lagos Airport Hotel , Ikeja , Mr Kayode Bakare has revealed that the urgent need to produce a corps of well-thoroughbred catering professionals actuated the synergy between the hotel and NASFAT.

Briefing newsmen in Ikeja, Lagos, Mr Bakare said ‘The hospitality industry in Nigeria is growing. many hotels and hospitality centers are daily springing up. These hospitality centres need to be manned by those who are well trained in the art of catering and hotel services. The fact is that there is a dearth of the thoroughbred, well trained and seasoned professionals in this sector. It is a fact that the few ones who are being used are on the transfer market and most of them are old “.

He pointed out “ In the early 80s and early 90s, there were upsurge of catering schools in Nigeria with some of them producing quality brains and well-skilled graduates in the art of culinary feat and catering services, but by the middle of the 90s , most of these schools closed down while Nigerians turned their eyes of sending their wards into catering schools.”

Mr Bakare revealed “ At Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, we have a training school which  was founded twenty years ago and is duly accredited and approved by all authorities concern and has the stamp and seal of Lagos State. We also being the father of catering  and hospitality in Nigeria  has a pool of seasoned, experienced, thoroughly skill experts who take the students through the basic necessities and the fundamental approach to catering services”.

He commended NASFAT as ‘a proactive religious organisation which has to see the lacuna in the sector and rising up to fill by engaging in the training of their members so as to empower them and make them virile economic members of the society.

Mr Bakare revealed “The one month intensive training and the one month attachment in the hotel are tailored at turning the students into job creators and not job seekers.W e have created areas of specialization which are Food and Beverages production services, front office management, housekeeping, laundry and dry cleaning operation, and hospitality entrepreneurship. The fee is only N20,000 naira.

He reasoned “Lagos Airport Hotel and NASFAT’s aim is to produce a corps of graduates who will immediately become their own Chief Executive Officers of their  own hotels and catering centres could outsource their services to”